On most holidays, I pass the day with a sickening feeling of self-pity and resentment. I feel like there is some magic picnic that every single person in the world has been invited to, but I was left off the list. They all have great, wonderful friends and huge families. Everyone loves each and everyone […]
Freedom to Pursue Enjoyment Read More »
This is one of my favorite Steven Wright lines. “You know how it feels when you’re leaning back on a chair, and you lean too far back, and you almost fall over backwards, but then you catch yourself at the last second? …. I feel like that all the time.” The reason that jokes works
It took me a while to understand the difference between these two motivations to perform a task. Most of us, without realizing it, go about our day acting out of in order to. We get up in order to go to work or take care of our children – not for its own sake but
“For Its Own Sake” vs. “In Order To” Read More »
Expansion and contraction are really one experience. Just as life and death are one. The breath is one, an inhale and an exhale. There is not one without the other. Nature shows us this in numerous ways. Nevertheless, we have a tendency to separate the natural conditions of life and label them. One is good,
At some point we all make mistakes. Unless one is a sociopath, guilt and remorse are felt, experienced and possibly expressed. Forgiveness is asked for and usually given. But what about those deep, vague, internal mistakes – the kind that are made over and over again unconsciously – mistakes against oneself that were habituated long
A Prisoner of Our Own Internal War Read More »
A meditation practice is just that. A practice. People who are new to this practice may go into meditation with some preconceived notions, as in all new endeavors. What comes to your mind when you think about meditation? Some believe that it is a way to “stop thoughts.” After a few attempts, one might realize
The Practice of Meditation Read More »
Picture yourself at three years old. Your heart is still mostly wide open. You are filled with a need to express yourself creatively and with tremendous love. Your eyes fall on some colorful paints and you are giddy with delight. There are not even words for the excitement that is racing through your entire being.
The Origin of the Challenge of Self-Expression Read More »
Pain. We all shy away from it, of course we do. Physical, emotional, psychological and even spiritual pain cause tremendous fear and resistance. Pain comes in and we go out – anywhere to avoid, or at least lessen the pain. We are afraid it will never go away. We are afraid it will get worse.
This Mother’s Day, as every one preceding, I was overwhelmed by the demand for consumer participation. The pressure in this country to have a great _____ special day is great, and I never seem to win. I wonder who does. I admit, I start at a disadvantage. My mother killed herself. Strike One against Mother’s
A Mother’s Day Retrospective Read More »
Once we have either determined to find a way to health, well-being, purpose in life, or any kind of spiritual or higher development, we all make the same mistake. We demand that the outcome of our endeavors show up in the time and fashion that we want. This is rarely, if ever the case. The
